VIDEO Four charged in Sarasota youth ‘footbrawl’

Youth football player Jamisen Saintvale attacks a referee in Sarasota

I am a devoted football fan and I will yell obscenities at a TV screen for hours over perceived bad calls. I thought I had issues but some players and coaches for the Sarasota Gators, a youth team featuring 13 and 14-year-old boys, went next level as they threw water bottles at and physically beat referee Jayme Ream.

This isn’t a laughing matter even though the following clip you see taken by a fan begins that way. Here’s the disturbing clip of youth once again crossing the lines of violence as they emulate adults entrusted with their care and edification:

43-year-old Dexter Austin, 38-year-old Timothy Howard, and 28-year-old Antonio Bradley have been arrested in the incident. They have each been charged with one count of battery on a sports official. Howard also faces a charge of battery on one of the coaches on the opposing team who tried to stop the fight.

The player who is seen on the video tackling Ream also faces a charge of battery on a sports official.

The entire football team for the Sarasota Gators has been suspended for the year. Col. Burns with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office made the following comment:

“I think everybody was disturbed by the video and to see adults who have been entrusted in a mentoring position with the youth of our community or anyone is disturbing and unacceptable.”

Here is a video of Mr. Ream speaking out about the incident: